Marines, sailors conduct rescue training to stay mission ready

Photo By Sgt. Aaron Hostutler | Navy Lt. Elyse Braxton, training officer in charge, demonstrates to sailors with 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, about the differences of treating a victim on a helicopter as opposed to on the ground.  

CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.20.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Aaron Hostutler 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

The corpsman? His only thought is saving his patient's life.

At the Central Training Area Aug. 5, sailors with 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing conducted Tactical Combat Casualty Care training in order to remain mission ready and prepared for a similar scenario.

"They need to be familiar with care in a helicopter," said Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Nunez, the training lead petty officer with the battalion. "There are more chances for your victim to get hypothermia. There's less space to work with and usually less equipment and also the risk of oxygen saturation. We stress these guys out about these things now so it's not such a shock to their system when it really happens."

This training is part of the corpsmen's predeployment training designed to give them the skills they need to be successful in combat.

Some of the skills taught during this training are care under fire, tactical field care, hemorrhage control, treatment for shock and an introduction to Military Operations in Urban Terrain.

"When these sailors deploy, they are attached to a Shock Trauma Platoon," said Nunez. "But then they attach to Marine units and go on foot patrols."

Sailors learn combat operations training like MOUT because sometimes the situation requires them to defend themselves and make that transition back to healing the wounded, said Nunez.

"You perform at a moment's notice, day or night. We prepare them for that," Nunez said.
While the corpsmen may have seemingly benefited the most, the training also gave flight crews an opportunity to hone their skills in flying and communicating with other services.

"This is the bread and butter of what we do," said Capt. Robin Brewer, a CH-46 helicopter aircraft commander with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 , Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. "It's one of our core missions. Every single time we deploy we have a [casualty evacuation mission] standing by. We do it for Cobra Gold, Talon Vision, Balikatan - all the major operations and exercises we do in the Pacific."

Training with medical personnel gave the Marines with the squadron a chance to practice receiving and reacting to a MEDEVAC call. They get their information about the patient, landing zone and any special gear they need to bring along in a format known as the nine-line brief.

"The nine-line lets us know the priority of the victim, and where they need to be taken, based off of how bad they're injured," said Brewer.

A positive benefit of this training for both Marines and sailors is gaining muscle memory for these procedures. They learn what to do and can do it quickly and efficiently.

"Muscle memory. They run on the helicopter quickly. We have to have our ramp down and ready for them, get them strapped in and get in the air as quickly as possible," Brewer added.

Training like the one conducted in the Central Training Area is done to ensure that when the victim looks in the eyes of the corpsman he doesn't see an expression of panic. The corpsman is calm because he knows that both he and the pilot know exactly what they're doing.

• Date Taken: 08.20.2010
• Date Posted: 08.19.2010 23:28
• Story ID: 54872
• Location: CENTRAL TRAINING AREA, OKINAWA, JP